Visioning Church Of Refuge, Europe
Visioning: a whole church exercise. You will face stiff opposition from Satan as you seek to comprehend the vision that God has designed for your ministry. - George Barna (The power of vision Regal Books, 1992; 0-8307-1601-7) "In many instances... we should instead look in the mirror to find the real culprit." IBID
Bible vision - popular reference! "Without a vision the people perish" - Proverbs 29:18 Without revelation through people who have heard from God, the followers will go wild -NSV (Nathan Stickland Version) Our focus must be on seeking the will of God.
Where does our vision come from? "Ecclesiastical political process and financial consideration absorb the visioning process of the church from top to bottom" Willmore D Eva "Authentic Christian visioning occurs when we fully embrace the definitive presence and direction of God in our life, personal and corporate." - Willmore D Eva
Bible vision - understanding God's message 1 Samuel 3:1 word of Lord rare, not many visions. Joel 2:28 (Numbers* 12:6) pour out Spirit & people will prophecy, dream, and see visions. (Moses wished all people were prophets Numbers* 11:29) Amos 8:11-12 famine of hearing the word of the Lord. *fourth book of Moses
Moses at burning bush Exodus 3 (second book of Moses) v.16 appeared to me and said... 4:29-31 vision = faith+love+response Isaiah 6 - I saw the Lord seated on a throne... Paul - Acts 26:19 vision from heaven Acts 9:3-9 suddenly a light from heaven... Jesus spoke. Zechariah - Luke 1:21-22 Angel spoke with message, people realised he had seen a vision.
Acts 18:9 one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. 1 Corinthians 2:14 nonspiritual are not spiritually discerning. Galatians 1:11-12 gospel a revelation from Jesus, not made up. Revelation 1:1-3 Angel with message to make something known.
Visions are for everyone Luke 14:33 - give up everything for Jesus. Consider Paul. Romans 12:1 living sacrifice - act of worship v2 test God's will
Living sacrifice = 1. Voluntary surrender 2. Living - give God what is right not what is left! 3. Submission - not potential, achievements, or performance. 4. Honours belong to God - results are God's! 5. God blessing not man pleasing. 6. Sin distorts perspective. Repentance and forgiveness prepare us for service. God not us.
Picture break.
Vision killers - George Barna 1. Tradition - we've never done it that way before! "God has no use for traditions that block progress... His interest is in its [the churches] ability to draw people closer to Him." What are we doing as a church that draws people closer to Him? "Tradition is generally a reflection of the past. Vision is always a reflection of the future." Change can bring maturity.
Vision killers - George Barna 2. Fear Vision requires change. Change can be scary! Have we failed because we have not done as God has asked? Do we think we have failed because we are results minded? "By focusing on our failings, we miss out on our potential."
Vision killers - George Barna 3. Stereotypes Old people only like organ music.
Vision killers - George Barna 4. Complacency God will bless whatever we do! Don't ask God to bless what you are doing. Instead, do what He is blessing. Complacency extinguishes passion. Are you ready to give it your all? Avoid lukewarm people.
Vision killers - George Barna 5. Fatigue Jesus took time for solitude. Story of Methodist minister. Story of running low on fuel. When you are energised for the challenge, move forward.
Vision killers - George Barna 6. Short term thinking. Throw all you have into short term thinking at the expense of the long term - finances, volunteers, contacts etc #In His time...# Song! Paper Pulpit article.
Know your target Demographic study Learn about the unchurched in your area What are other churches doing? Visit them, don't just read about them. Learn from practitioners not theoreticians! 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Jew to Jew etc
Stop it! Pastors, stop being intimidated by other Pastors! Leaders are learners. A vision is seeing what God is doing and joining Him.
Quote "Boundaries are like the banks of a river. Banks create depth and increase the momentum of the river as it flows. Rivers without banks are slow and shallow. Churches without boundaries in their vision statements try to please everyone and everything. The result is ministry that is a mile wide and an inch deep." Wayne Schmidt - Leading when God is moving.
12:43 offerings for victory. Nehemiah example 2:12 not shared what was on his heart at first (v.16) v13 examining v17-18 cast the vision 4:8 trouble happens! v16 change of plan. All involved. 6:2-4 Distractions. Stick to the job.
Write it down Habakkuk 2:2 But make it understandable! Vision comes from conceiving the will of God having spent time in His presence.